Recaps

Natsuki gathered allies against Obito while helping Kazahana Koyuki reclaim the Land of Snow and uncover the power of its Rainbow Crystal Walls. The land became habitable, but Obito’s plans advanced, and Natsuki left his companions to pursue further training and prepare for the threats ahead.

• Natsuki warned Jiraiya about Mount Myōboku and the dangers facing the Ninja World, then recruited him to investigate the Otsutsuki Cult and Kara.
• Natsuki prepared his allies for Sage training and traveled with Naruto, Hinata, Sasuke, Kimimaro, and Haku to protect Kazahana Koyuki and the film crew in the Land of Snow.
• Natsuki and his companions defeated Kazahana Dōtō’s Snow Ninja and soldiers, and Kazahana Koyuki killed Dōtō after reclaiming her father’s treasure.
• Kazahana Koyuki used her necklace to activate the Rainbow Crystal Walls, which released heat and Natural Energy and brought spring to the Land of Snow.
• Natsuki learned from Kakuzu’s intelligence that Obito was seeking Jinchuriki and powerful corpses, while Hiruko planned to use Kakashi’s Puppet Curse against Konoha.
• Natsuki claimed the Rainbow Crystal Walls as a Sage training ground and began teaching his group to refine Sage Chakra and enter Sage Mode.
• Natsuki assessed his companions’ Sage training, left Naruto and Hinata in the Land of Snow, and returned Sasuke to the Radiant Country to train with Shisui and Yōya.

Natsuki strengthened Konoha’s allies and arranged Sasori’s reunion with his parents while Obito gathered forces and began capturing Tailed Beasts. The Sarutobi Clan vanished during its flight from Konoha, and Sunagakure planned Chunin Exams that could bring the Uchiha Clan into its trade efforts.

• Natsuki sent Shisui and Yōya to spar with Sasuke, then brought Sasuke to the Land of Snow and arranged Sage training and a formal meeting between Naruto and Hinata and Minato and Kushina.
• Natsuki, Minato, and Kushina set a Boundary Sealing Array around the Rainbow Crystal Wall, while Haku, Naruto, Shisui, and Minato advanced their Sage training.
• Natsuki arranged for Kakuzu and Sasori to spy on Obito, and Sasori agreed after Natsuki promised to help him meet his resurrected parents.
• Orochimaru used Impure World Reincarnation in Sunagakure to reunite Sasori with his parents, while Asuma led Kurenai and willing Sarutobi Clan Members toward the Daimyo’s Mansion.
• Takashi Sarutobi led about three thousand clan members out of Konoha, but they disappeared after a vast shadow descended on their campsite.
• Natsuki identified captured mechanical flies as Otsutsuki surveillance technology, warned Orochimaru about Jigen, and summoned Hatake Sakumo for Kakashi.
• Obito captured Roshi and extracted the Four-Tails over seven days, then planned to target Han and assigned Kakuzu and Sasori to deal with Sunagakure.
• Rasa proposed large-scale Chunin Exams to improve Sunagakure’s standing and finances, and Gaara suggested inviting the Uchiha Clan to help transport goods.

Natsuki helped rally Mist Village and Konoha against Kumogakure’s new cannon while Obito’s plans escalated across the villages. During Sunagakure’s Chunin Exams, Fū helped Gaara protect the examinees, but Obito attacked and left Rasa mortally wounded as he pursued Shukaku.

• Minato approved Sand Village’s request to host the latter half of the Chunin Exams, while Fū secured Takigakure’s recommendation and secretly set out for the exam.
• Natsuki learned from Kakuzu that Obito planned to disrupt the exams and capture Gaara and Fū, then offered Kakuzu and Sasori deals to work for him.
• Orochimaru’s reincarnation procedure placed his soul into an artificial embryo, while Kumogakure tested its Space-Time Chakra Cannon by destroying Takiyana Island and Ryūgyoku Sea Port.
• Natsuki, Minato, and Hibaku confronted the Raikage, who agreed to suspend hostilities for a year after Yōya defeated Yugito and Shisui defeated Killer B.
• Hibaku revealed to Mei Terumi that he and the other elders had been resurrected by Natsuki, then disappeared after entrusting her with the Mist Village’s future.
• The Chunin Exams began in Sunagakure, but Elder Fuji blocked long-range perception and allowed a sandstorm to trap the examinees, and Fū rescued Miyoshi’s team, and Gaara sheltered them.
• Hoichi bound Gaara and drained his and Shukaku’s Chakra, while Obito attacked Kakuzu and Sasori, killed Sasori, and mortally wounded Rasa as he sensed Shukaku.

Obito captured more Tailed Beasts and joined forces with the Sky Ninja to attack Konoha, while Shion’s prophecy gave Minato time to prepare. The assault began with the village defending its shelters and key locations, and Minato trapped the attackers inside Konoha’s perimeter.

• Chiyo sacrificed herself to revive Sasori, while Natsuki promised he could save her and hurried toward Gaara.
• Obito extracted Shukaku and Chōmei from Gaara and Fū, and Natsuki told Kankuro that Gaara could still be saved.
• Natsuki revived Rasa and arranged for him to stabilize Sunagakure while Rasa’s family prepared for Gaara’s return.
• Obito’s attacks spread across the villages as he captured Isobu and planned a Konoha assault with Boro and the Sky Ninja.
• Shion foresaw that flying ninja would attack Konoha, and Minato organized civilian evacuations and village defenses.
• Nearly a thousand Sky Ninja bombed Konoha as Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata, and other teams defended the hospital and the village’s shelters.
• Minato forced White Zetsu out of the ground and sealed Konoha’s perimeter, while Konan’s explosive papers and the barrier brought down the Sky Ninja.